Confirmed unprovoked white shark attacks on humans worldwide are rare and usually nonfatal
Documented reports of unprovoked attacks on humans by white sharks total a handful yearly, with a high of 17 incidents in 2020. The rising trend correlates with population shifts toward coasts and the growth of beach tourism.
Bar chart showing documented unprovoked attacks by white sharks on humans rising from 5 in 1960 to a high of 17 in 2020, with roughly 20 percent of these incidents leading to fatalities.
